Accused killer has long criminal record
Gregory Lance Henderson
Staff Writer
Published: October 15, 2009
The man accused of killing a Lee County Sheriff’s deputy has a long arrest record in Georgia, dating back to 1995.
Records received this week from the Columbus (Ga.) Police Department and the Georgia Department of Corrections, show how Gregory Lance Henderson, 31, of Columbus, has been breaking numerous laws for nearly 15 years.
He was most recently incarcerated at Hays State Prison in Trion, Ga., for aggravated assault. He was also charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine and a motor vehicle law violation. He served 14 months of a three-year sentence, according to records on the state DOC Web site.
Those involved in the murder case against Henderson are prohibited from talking to the media or public about it, since a temporary gag order was put in place Wednesday.
Henderson has been held in the Russell County jail for the past three weeks, charged with killing deputy James Anderson Sept. 24 during a traffic stop in the Smiths Station area. Alabama does not allow bond in capital murder cases.
The latest offense is the worst of Henderson’s long criminal history, which has escalated to more serious offenses since his first adult run-in with the law in 1995. He was charged with running a red light when he was 17.
He got nearly 30 more moving violations in the next 12 years, including reckless driving, driving with a suspended or revoked license and driving with a revoked tag.
Henderson was driving a 1991 Honda Civic when Anderson and a female deputy pulled him over on Lee Road 240, near Lee Road 522, on suspicion that the vehicle had a switched tag.
When Anderson approached the vehicle, which Henderson had driven into a residential driveway, Henderson allegedly accelerated forward, striking Anderson and pinning him under the vehicle. The female deputy, who was being trained by Anderson, apprehended Henderson.
The arrest record also shows Henderson’s history of violent behavior and drug use. Days before his 19th birthday, he was first charged with simple battery. In the next nine years, his violence escalates to warrant charges of simple assault, disorderly conduct and battery with physical harm.
His first drug charge — unlawful possession of marijuana — came in 2001, a month before he turned 23. Henderson was then charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine twice in 2007.
Lee County District Court Judge Russell K. Bush said Wednesday Henderson faces unlawful possession of a controlled substance, in addition to capital murder. The substance is believed to be methamphetamine.
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Reader Reactions
My heart goes out to the family. Thank God that the training officer was able to apprehend this man. She is commended. It shows how ruthless people on drugs can be. Life is nothing to them, nor the pain that they impose on the family and friends of their victims. He certainly must face the justice system and be punnished, but it will not bring the officer back. If there had not been two officers that night, he would have gone and probably no one would have ever known who killed him. I wish the sherrif could afford 2 officers to each car. It is so dangerous out there!
May God Bless the family and the family of this young man. They are all victims of his crime.
I totally agree. He needs to pay for his actions & once again this is a terrible thing that has come from the use of Meth. It makes people crazy & not care about anything, but that next high. All my prayers & thoughts go out to Mr. Anderson’s family, co-workers, & friends.
please make sure this man is held accountable for killing my brother. I feel for the mother of this man but he needs to be punished for what he did and for what he has done. People like this need to be taught that they can’t treat others like this and break the law constantly.
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